Socceroo, milkman, friend to Pelé: football mourns Manfred Schaefer

Football fans across Australia are mourning the death of 1974 Fifa World Cup Socceroo and Football Australia Hall of Fame member, Manfred Schaefer, who was 80.

The defender represented Australia 73 times between 1967 and 1974, 49 of those ‘A’ Internationals, and was a member of Australia’s first FIFA World Cup squad in 1974, starting all three of Australia’s group games at the tournament in West Germany.

Football Australia Chairman Chris Nikou said: “Today we mourn the passing of a giant of Australian football in Manfred Schaefer. While not born in Australia, Manfred gave everything to Australia, representing the country both on and off the field with the greatest of distinction.

“Even after retiring as a player, Manfred influenced the careers of so many of the nation’s finest players through his technical brilliance and strong managerial skills for almost three decades.

“Manfred loved all levels of Australian football and would regularly be found supporting the sport, whether at grassroots, NPL, Australia Cup or national team level, where his presence will now be sorely missed but always felt.

“On behalf of Football Australia and the Australian football community, I send my deepest condolences to the Schaefer family, his friends, and former teammates at this sad time. Manfred Schaefer, forever cap 198.” concluded Nikou.

Schaefer migrated to Australia from East Germany at the age of 10 and took up football at high school. He initially joined Blacktown before transferring to St George in 1959 and playing 450 games for them, winning the NSW State League in 1972.

“Manny” credited his strong psyche to his early days. Born in the East Prussian town of Pillau, Germany (now Baltiysk, Russia), his family fled to Bremen in the